Adam “Pacman” Jones has once again been invited to share his unfortunate experiences with incoming rookies at the NFL Rookie Symposium near the end of June. Last year, Jones spoke to rookies about managing money and shared a touching story about the time he managed to blow $1 million in a single weekend. This year, the circumstances are a bit different.
When Pacman spoke to rookies last summer, it had been about a year since his last run-in with the law. This time around, Jones has found himself back in hot water after he allegedly punched a woman outside a bar on June 5. The Bengals corner insisted he acted in self-defense, but this surveillance video may paint a different picture.
In the wake of his recent arrest, many have questioned whether it is still appropriate for Jones to speak at the Rookie Symposium. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, NFL Vice President of Player Engagement Troy Vincent said Jones will remain on the list because of the connection he made with rookies last year. Vincent said the league likes that his experiences are “real” and not role play.
“You are not going to trick an athlete,” he explained. “They know when it is dressed up and not real. When you can sit among your peers and just talk about your life, someone is learning from that. They can look at him and see themselves from the way they look to where they have originated.”
For this particular job requirement, I guess you could say Pacman’s resume has gotten even stronger. After he was released from jail last Monday, Jones stuck to his story about acting in self-defense.
“I’m not out drinking, getting drunk,” he said. “All I was doing was protecting myself. I wouldn’t like to harm no woman, period. … Most of my family are women. I don’t even have a dad. I’m not into that, and I don’t condone that.”
Whether he acted in self-defense or not, it sounds like Jones has learned another valuable lesson. Walking away from a confrontation is always the best bet, especially if there is a fence separating you and the person you are arguing with. Perhaps he can pass that wisdom on to NFL rookies in addition to some money-saving pointers.
